Chicago Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey After Pride Posts

The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental after he posted videos, at one point saying NBA teams staging Pride Night was akin to celebrating "unrighteousness." Ivey was already sidelined for the season with a knee injury and had made only four appearances after Chicago acquired him at the 2026 trade deadline. Financially, keeping him would have required a $13.4 million qualifying offer and carried a $30.3 million cap hold, a strain with Josh Giddey’s $25 million annual salary and Rob Dillingham on the roster. Merlin sees talent wrapped in consequence. Public comments and a lingering injury dent Ivey’s market; teams that value locker room stability are likely to hesitate. He still has youth and upside, but will probably need a low-risk, prove-it deal or time away to rebuild trust and value.